Woman wearing hat with pink feathers, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small round card showing a woman in a feathered hat was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of their 'Novelties' series. Though seemingly innocuous, it provides a lens onto the social and cultural values of its time. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, were essentially advertisements, preying on consumer desires and associating them with the act of smoking. The image of a fashionable woman was a common motif. Here, the focus on elaborate headwear speaks volumes about the importance of appearance and social status in the late 19th century. The card reflects the growing consumer culture of the United States, where the commodification of beauty and the pursuit of fashionable trends were becoming increasingly prevalent. To understand this seemingly simple image, we can look at fashion history, advertising ephemera, and company records. In doing so, we reveal the complex interplay between art, commerce, and social identity.